Monster Company Tycoon - Chapter 22

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Monster Company Tycoon
Episode 22
***
“Teon, go home first.”
“Chacha too?”
“Take Chacha with you.”
I left the restaurant later than intended because my younger sister kept pestering me for dessert.
Recalling the conversation we’d had at the table, I wondered if she might have visited the general store and went to check, but I couldn’t find her.
It was a pointless gesture anyway—she’d already returned to the Dungeon by then.
There was a reason I’d sent my sister home first.
For a while now, someone had been waiting in the depths of the Alley for me to notice them.
“It’s been a long time, brother.”
“Serio.”
Someone I had never expected to see again.
From the shadows, a figure in pristine Priest’s Robes stepped forward with a smile.
That disagreeable smile, unseen for so long, twisted something inside me.
‘Always the same. He’s just putting on that false, likable expression without any real feeling behind it.’
“Would you still not consider returning to the Temple? Reta waits for you always.”
“I told you—I’ve retired from being an Adventurer.”
One of the three Archbishops of the Reta Church, wielding influence within the faith comparable even to that of the Saint herself.
The Saint of Judgment, Serio.
I never imagined that someone who should be managing a grand temple in the metropolis would venture all the way out to this remote Village.
It was surely because of me.
“Even if you’ve retired as an Adventurer, you remain a member of the Temple Knight Order, do you not? Should you will your return, you may do so at any time, Ragnar.”
“I’ve said it before—I’m not going back to the Temple.”
“I understand. I harbored no hope that a single meeting would turn your heart.”
That carefully painted smile never wavered, even in the face of my blunt refusal. It bordered on obsession.
“Is this the Pope’s order? It seems excessive to send one of only three Archbishops just to persuade a single person like me.”
“The Pope merely follows Reta’s wishes.”
“A futile effort.”
The Temple is being built regardless.
Now that I’ve been assigned to a new region, even an Archbishop must observe protocol and stay at least six months.
From what I can tell, he plans to keep approaching me—but there’s no need to lose resolve now.
I’ll simply ignore him until he exhausts himself and gives up.
‘More importantly… Serio arrived sooner than expected. I was late in warning that person.’
I was turning to leave, debating whether to alert them now, when—
“Why have you retired? Even if you are no longer a Temple Knight, you possess the strength to save countless people from wicked demons, do you not? Ragnar, a person of your caliber retiring makes the world far too dangerous.”
Irritation flared up inside me.
“Serio.”
“Yes.”
“Stop echoing other people’s words. You don’t even understand what they mean—you’re just repeating what you’ve been told.”
At last, the smile vanished from his face.
Everyone raised in the Temple is like that.
Educated from childhood, their sense of self is erased, and they become nothing more than puppets shaped by the Temple’s desires.
They act as commanded, speak as commanded. They believe the Pope’s will is their own will, and nothing else is right.
That’s why I left the Temple Knight Order.
Even the Saint, whom countless people venerate, is merely a bird trapped in a cage, unable to fly on her own.
“Why do you speak to me that way?”
“Serio. Die inside the Temple. Don’t come looking for me again.”
“I must convince you.”
The colorless words flowed out mechanically.
“Every time you step out of the Temple, I feel myself drifting further from the Temple Knight Order.”
“Then I will wait for you at the Temple. Come find me yourself.”
I didn’t answer. If I did, he’d believe whatever I said was the truth, even if it were just a formality.
As I stepped out of the Alley, I heard Serio’s footsteps receding in the opposite direction.
He may be nothing but a puppet moving without a soul, but as an Archbishop, he possesses an immense and formidable Holy Power.
With a single gesture, he’d annihilated hundreds of Monsters, earning him the title of the Saint of Judgment.
He was far too dangerous for someone who had made a contract with the Demon Lord to face.
“Hah… I need to tell them not to go anywhere near the Temple.”
“Oh, y-yes, hello… I’m Choi.”
“I… I have a contract with the master of this Dungeon!”
Choi. The strange woman I’d met in the Dungeon after following my younger sibling inside.
And she’d blurted it out so casually—that she’d contracted with the Demon Lord. It was the sort of thing that could easily get her branded a heretic, yet she seemed utterly oblivious to how dangerous those words were.
No, she was simply someone with a startling lack of common sense.
I’m not fond of troublesome matters.
By protocol, a heretic should have been dealt with on the spot.
But looking into those earnest eyes gazing up at me… I found myself thinking it wouldn’t hurt to hear more of the story.
It was because she reminded me of Chacha, my companion—who would look up at me with those clear, innocent eyes even after committing some misdeed, seemingly unaware of what he’d done wrong.
Even if she harbored some hidden agenda, the Dungeon itself wasn’t of a scale to pose any real threat. If she tried anything reckless, I could simply erase it from existence.
After all, I knew how to do that better than anyone.
I was simply postponing everything for a moment.
Out of curiosity—to see how she would act, what she would say.
‘A person entirely beyond prediction.’
She was someone who sent gentle ripples through the tedium of my days.
“Come to think of it… she does resemble Chacha a bit, just as Teon said.”
***
A caution? A warning?
For a moment, I was taken aback by those grave words tinged with concern.
Reta. Where had I heard that name before?
“You’ve abandoned Reta, the Holy Guardian who protects these lands and stands in opposition to the Demon Lord? And you’ve grasped the hand of the enemy instead? That makes you a heretic.”
“H-hieek…!”
Warning lights flashed in my mind.
This was a genuine emergency!
Reta Temple would be the natural predator of our Dungeon.
“W-what do I do then? The Dungeon can’t exactly move…”
It was like suddenly having a police station open right across from your office.
You haven’t broken any laws, but still—a nagging twinge of guilt.
“In any case, the Temple recognizes Dungeon raids as the domain of Adventurers, so they’re unlikely to go poking around directly. Of course, if the Monsters under your command cause any incidents, that would change matters.”
Luadis chuckled as he spoke.
“I’ll be careful—really careful! I’ll manage things diligently! Um… but should I quit my job at the Restaurant? Won’t it be dangerous for me to visit the Village…?”
“Mm…”
After a moment’s consideration, she shook her head and opened her mouth.
“That much should be fine. Priests rarely stray far from the Temple. As long as you don’t seek them out, you’re unlikely to cross paths with them.”
“Phew… what a relief.”
I didn’t want to lose this sweet part-time gig I’d barely managed to secure.
Honestly, I’m so glad I didn’t stick around to chat. Running away like that was absolutely the right call!
If I’d gotten greedy and taken that cleaning job instead…
“I absolutely won’t even glance toward the North…”
“Hmm. One more thing.”
“Yes?”
Luadis stroked her chin with a troubled expression.
“If possible… it would be best to keep your distance from Ragnar as well.”
My mouth fell open. Surely not—was he going to report me to the Temple?! I didn’t think he was that cold-hearted, but what a betrayal!
And here he’d promised not to tell anyone!
“But he said he wouldn’t report me… Tch.”
“Ah, don’t misunderstand. Ragnar won’t report you. He’s the kind who honors his word once he’s given it. It’s just… the Temple has taken an interest in Ragnar, so being close to him could draw unwanted attention. Best to be cautious.”
The Temple is watching Ragnar? Why?
“Did he… do something wrong at the Temple?”
“Not exactly. My disciple has had an oddly frequent connection to the Temple for quite some time. Since I’ve spent my days in this Village, I don’t know all the details of his past.”
Luadis primarily heard news from the outside world through Adventurers who visited the Village.
This didn’t seem to be a world where newspapers were widely circulated or where broadcasts existed.
It was a world where job postings were entrusted to wind spirits, after all.
“The fact that the Temple building even started construction in this remote Village, not in the City proper—that all began after Ragnar returned to his hometown. So the Temple is keeping watch over him.”
Like stalkers.
“Thank you for the advice. I’ll be really careful.” Ragnar had been a pretty good advisor, but… I suppose I’ll have to keep some distance.
I have land spirits and Monsters I need to feed, after all.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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